Train-lighting system.



No. 799,524. PATENTED SEPT. 12, 19.05. W. L. BLISS.

TRAIN LIGHTING SYSTEM.

APPLIcAnox FILED 11.11.15. 1905.

NQ-WMUPW@ I (u u N fb A-AL N iba u N W@ murmur-WLM Q .o S v a b NWI'TNESSES( (u |NVENTOR MMM Hamam .s.

BY @MM /QfAC/ZA,

ATTOR EY.

TEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. BLISS, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YOBK, ASSIGNOB rIO BLISS ELEOTBIO OABLIGHTING OOMBANY, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A OOBBOBATION OE wISOONSIN.

TRAIN-LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 15, 1905. Serial No. 250,250.

T0 all 1.//71/0711, it 77160;/ concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BLIss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Train-Lighting Systems, of whichthe following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

The present invention relates to improvements in lighting` systems whichare especially adapted to be employed for lighting cars or other unitsof transportation by electricity.

The particular form of the system to which the present inventionespecially relates is adapted to be employed for lighting a train ofcars. It is provided with a single generator, which furnishes thecurrent for operating the entire System. It is also provided withstorage batteries and translating devices arranged in circuit with saidgenerator, a storage battery and translating devices being carried uponeach car or unit in the train. The generator is driven by an axle orother means, and it is automatically regulated to confine the outputthereof within safe limits notwithstanding the wide variations in speedto which it is subjected.

The present application sets forth and claims a modification of aninvention which is explained in an application filed June l5, 1904,Serial No. 212,593.

According to the present invention the generator is provided with afield-winding which regulates the same to confine the output thereofwithin safe limits, said winding being arranged incircuit where it willbe subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed ofthe generator. The current which it is necessary for the generator tosupply depends upon the number of cars or units in the train. If cars beadded to the train, the current must increase, and if cars be takentherefrom it must decrease. 1f the field-winding which regulates thegenerator be subjected to variations in current under suchcircumstances, then it will alter the regulation of the generator,thereby preventing Said generator from making the output thereofcommensurate with the demands for current. The

purposes of said field-Winding will be attained if it responds to merelysuch variations in cui'- rent as result from variations in the speed ofthe generator.

It is the object of the present' invention to provide means which willprevent the regulating-winding of the generator from altering theregulation of the generator When variations in the output of thegenerator result from changes in the number of cars or units in thetrain.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a system which will be explainedfor the purpose of describing the present invention. It will of coursebe understood that the system illustrated in the drawing may be changedin many ways without departing from the invention and, furthermore, thatsaid drawingillustrates merely sufcient features of the system tocharacterize the invention.

The generator may be provided -With an armature 1, a shunt field-winding2, and a differential series field-winding 3, and it is preferablyarranged upon the tender of the locomotive; but it may be arrangedelsewhere upon the train. The armature is preferably geared to the axle,and in consequence it is driven at a variable speed. The shunt-winding Qpreferably produces the initial excitation of the field of thegenerator, and the differential series field-winding 3 regulates thegenerator to confine the output thereof within safe limits. When theoutput of the generator increases, the strength of the current in theregulating field-winding 3 will increase, thereby causing the strengthof the field to decrease, and when the output of the generatordecreases, the strength of the current in the regulating-winding willdecrease, thereby causing the strength of the field to increase, due tothe fact that the differential regulating field-winding 3 opposes theshunt fieldwinding 2, the latter always predominating. The fieldstrength of the generator will thus be varied inversely as the speed ofthe armature varies, and in consequence the output of the generator willbe confined within prearranged limits. The train is preferably providedwith a train-line or main circuit which extends through the cars orunits thereof, said train-line preferably being 'composed of conductors4, 5, and 6. The conductors 5 and 6 are preferably connected to thegener- IOO ator at the forward end of the train by the conductors orsupply-mains 7 and 8, and the conductors 4f, and 5 are preferablyconnected to each other at the rear end of the train by a conductor orjumper 9.

The equipment which is installed upon each car will now be explained.The drawing illustrates equipments for two ears, and as both equipmentsare alike reference will be made to a single car in explaining the same.

Thecar is provided with a local circuit composed of conductors 10 and11, the conductor 10 being connected to the conductor 6 and theconductor 11 being connected to the conductor et. rlhe local circuit isarranged across the train-line in parallel with the other local circuitsin the system. As the length of the circuit between the generator andeach local circuit is the same, equal voltages will be impressed uponthe local circuits. The car is also provided with a storage battery 12and lamps and other translating devices 13, said battery and said lampsbeing arranged in said local circuit in parallel. The lamp-circuit ispreferably controlled by a switch 14. The local circuit is preferablycontrolled by an automatic switch which may be provided with stationarycontacts 15 and 16 and a movable contact 17, said movable contact beingadapted to engage said stationary contacts to close the local circuit.The movable contact is preferably carried by a plunger 18, which isactuated by windings 19 and 2O to operate the switch. The winding 19 ispreferably arranged across the local circuit between the switch-contactsand the train-line, and the winding' 20 is preferably arranged in thelocal circuit in series with the switch-contacts and the storagebattery. The shunt-winding 19 will cause the switch to close wheneverthe voltage of the generator becomes equal to that of the storagebattery. vWhile the automatic switch remains closed the series winding2O will be energized by current iiowing through the local circuit, andso long as the generator sends current through the local circuit theseries winding will assist the shunt-winding in keeping' the movablecontact firmly in engagement with the stationary contacts. Whenever thevoltage of the generator falls below that of the storage battery,current will flow backward through the local circuit from said battery,and then the series winding will oppose the shuntwinding, as thepolarity thereof will be reversed, thereby causing the switch to open.

1V hen the generator is in operation, current will iiow from thepositive terminal thereof, through supply main 7, conductor 5, andjumper 9, to conductor 4, thence through the local circuits, and finallythrough conductor 6, supply-main 8, and series winding 3 to the negativeterminal thereof. If the voltage of the generator be substantially equalto that of the storage battery, the current for operating' the lampswill be furnished by the generator and storage battery together; but ifit be greater than that of the storage battery the generator willfurnish the entire current for operating the lamps and also current forcharging the storage battery. lt being' assumed that the voltage of thegenerator is greater than that of the storage battery, the current inthe local circuit will liow fromthe local main 11, through the automaticswitch, then through switch 14 and lamps 13, and also through storagebattery 12, to the local main 10. inasmuch as the current delivered tothe storage battery will depend upon the voltage developed by thegenerator, it will vary whenever the speed of the generator varies.rlhecurrent delivered to the storage battery will increase in almostdirect proportion to the rise in voltage of the generator above thenormal voltage of the storage battery, thereby causing the differentialseries field-winding 3 to be subjected to considerable variations incurrent upon slight variations in the speed of the generator. When carsare added to the train, the output of the generator will increase tosupply the increase in the demands for current, because new parallelcircuits are placed across the main circuit or train-line, and when carsare taken from the train the output of the generator will decrease inaecordance with the decrease in the demands for current, becauseparallel circuits are removed frein across the main circuit ortrainline. It may be assumed where two cars are in the train, asillustrated in the drawing, that the generator delivers a current of onehundred amperes, a current of fifty amperes being distributed to eachcar. 1f a car be added to the train, the output of the generator willincrease to one hundred and lifty amperes, and if a car be taken fromthe trainthe output of the generator will decrease to fifty amperes.When the generator is inoperative, the storage battery will furnish thecurrent for operating the lamps.

1f the held-winding 3 which regulates the generator were subjected tovariations in current when the number of cars in the train is changed,it would cause the regulation of the generator to be altered, therebypreventing the generator from varying the output thereof in accordancewith the variations in the demands for current. To prevent such result,a shunt-circuit 21 may be extended around said winding from the localcircuit of each car, thereby causing current to be diverted from saidwinding. The shuntcircuit of each car is preferably provided with aresistance 22 to prevent it from short-circuiting the regulatingfield-winding. The wheels of the cars and the tracks upon which saidwheels bear, as well as the condueting-framework of the cars, mayconstitute parts of each shuntcircuit. It will of course be understoodthat any form of conductor may be employed to form the shunt-circuits.lf a car be added TOO IIO

to the train, another shunt-circuit Will be provided, thereby increasingthe number of parallel shunt-circuits extending around the regulatingfield winding, and in consequence the current diverted from saidregulatingwinding will be increased to such an extent as to prevent saidWinding from being subjected materially to the increase in the output ofthe generator, and if a car be taken from the train a shunt-circuit willbe removed, thereby decreasing the number of parallel shunt-circuitsaround the regulating-Winding, and in consequence the current divertedfrom said Winding Will be decreased to such an extent as to prevent saidWinding from being subjected materially to the decrease in the output ofthe generator. The output of the generator may therefore vary Whenevercars are added to the train or taken therefrom Without causing theregulating-Winding to alter the regulation of the generator.

It Will be understood that many changes may be made in the system whichhas been set forth herein Without in any way departing from theinvention as defined by the claims of this application.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, a field-Winding arranged upon said generator andregulating the same to confine the output thereof Within prearrangedlimits, said field- Winding being arranged in circuit to respond toVariations in current, a storage battery and translating devices carriedupon each of a plurality of units of the train and arranged in circuitWith said generator, and means for preventing said field-Winding fromaltering the regulation of said generator upon variations in the outputof said generator resulting from changes in the number of units in thetrain.

2. ln a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, a main circuit extending from said generator, a localcircuit arranged upon each of said units of the train and connected tosaidmain circuit, a storage battery and translating devices arranged ineach local circuit, a field-Winding arranged upon'said generator andregulating the same to confine the output thereof Within prearrangedlimits, said field-Winding being arranged in said main circuit in serieswith said storage batteries and translating devices, and means forpreventing said field-Winding from altering the regulation of saidgenerator upon variations in the output of said generator resulting fromchanges in the number of units in the train.

, 3. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, a main circuit extending from said generator, a localcircuit arranged upon each of said units of the train and connected tosaid main circuit, translating devices ar ranged in each local circuit,a held-Winding arranged upon said generator and regulating the same toconline the output thereof Within prearranged limits, said field-windingbeing arranged in said main circuit in series with said translatingdevices and the armature of said generator, and means for preventingsaid field-Winding from altering the regulation of said generator uponvariations in the output of said generator resulting from changes in thenumber' of units in the train.

4. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed and provided with a shunt field-Winding, said generatoralso being provided with a differential series held-winding forregulating the same to confine the output thereof within prearrangedlimits, a main circuit extending from said generator, a local circuitarranged upon each of said units and connected to said main circuit, astorage battery and translating devices arranged in each local circuit,and means for preventing said differential field-Winding from alteringthe regulation of said generator upon variations in the output of saidgenerator resulting from changes in the number of units in the train.

5. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed and provided With a shunt field-Winding, said generatoralso being provided with a differential series Held-Winding forregulating the same to confine the output thereof Within prearrangedlimits, a main circuit extending from said generator and passing througha plurality of units of the train, a local circuit arranged upon each ofsaid units of the train and connected to said main circuit in parallelwith the other local circuits, a storage battery and translating devicesarranged in each local circuit, and means for preventing saidfield-winding from altering the regulation of said generator uponvariations in the output of said generator resulting from changes in thenumber of units in the train.

6. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator arranged uponthe tender of the locomotive and driven at a variable speed, a maincircuit extending from said generator, a local circuit arranged uponeach of said cars and connected to said main circuit, a storage batteryand translating' devices arranged in each local circuit, a lield-Winding arranged upon said generator and regulating the same to confinethe output thereof Within prearranged limits, said lield-Y Winding beingarranged in said main circuit in series, and means for preventing saidlield- Winding from altering the regulation of said generator uponvariations in the output of said generator resulting from changes in thenumber of units in the train.

7. In a train-lighting system, in combina- IOO tion, a generatorarranged upon the tender of the locomotive and driven at a variablespeed, said generator being' provided with a shunt held-winding and adifferential series field-winding, said differential field-winding beingprovided to regulate the generator to coniine the output thereof withinprearranged limits, a main circuit extending from said generator, alocal circuit arrang'ed upon each of said cars and connected to saidmain circuit, a storage battery and translating devices arranged in eachlocal circuit, and means for preventing said held-winding from alteringthe regulation of said generator upon variations of the output of saidgenerator resulting from chang'es in the number of cars in the train.

8. In a train-lig'hting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried uponeach of a plurality of units of the train and arranged in circuit inparallel with said generator, a field-winding arranged upon saidgenerator and regulating the same to coniine the output thereof withinprearranged limits, said field-winding being' arranged in circuit torespond to variations in current, and a shunt-circuit extending fromeach of said units and passing' around said Held-winch ing', whereby theoutput of said generator may vary upon changes in the number of units inthe train without thereby altering the regulation of said generator.

9. In a train-lighting' system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, translating devices carried upon each of a plurality ofunits of the train and arranged in circuit with said generator, afield-winding arranged upon said generator and regulating the same toconiine the output thereof within prearranged limits, said field-windingbeing arranged in circuit to respond to variations in current, and ashunt-circuit extending' from each of said units and passing around saidfield-winding, whereby the output of said generator may vary uponchanges in the number of units in the train without thereby causing saidiield-winding to alter the regulation of the generator.

l0. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed, a main circuit extending from said generator, a localcircuit arranged upon each of a plurality of units of the train andconnected to said main circuit, translating devices arranged in eachlocal circuit, a held-winding arranged upon said generator andregulating the same to conline the output thereof within prearrangedlimits, said held-winding being' arranged in circuit to respond tovariations in current, and a shunt-circuit extending from each localcircuit and passing around said lield winding, whereby the output ofsaid generator may vary upon changes in the number of units in the trainwithout thereby causing said field-winding to alter the reg'ulation ofthe generator.

ll. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed and provided with a shunt [ield\vindi1ig, a differentialseries field-winding' arranged upon said g'enerator and regulating' sameto coniine the output thereof within prearranged limits, a main circuitextending' from said generator, a local circuit arranged upon each ofsaid units and connected to said main circuit, a storage battery andtranslating devices arranged in each local circuit, a parallelshunt-circuit extending' from each local circuit to said generator andpassing' around said differential series field-winding, eachshunt-circuit being' provided with a resistance, whereby the output ofthe generator may vary upon changes in the number of units in the trainwithout thereby causing' the regulation of said generator to be alteredupon variations in the output of said generator resulting from changesin the number of units in the train.

l2. In a train-lighting' system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed an d provided with a field-winding for regulating same toconfine the output thereof within prearranged limits, said held-windingbeing' arranged in circuit to respond to variations in current, a maincircuit extending' from said generator and passing' through a pluralityof units of the train, a parallel local circuit arranged upon each ofsaid units and connected to said main circuit, an automatic switchcontrolling' each local circuit, a storage battery and translating'devices arranged in each local circuit, and a parallel shunt-circuitextending' from each local circuit to said generator and passing' aroundsaid held-winding', whereby the output of said generator may vary uponchanges in the number of units in the train without thereby causing' thereg'ulation of said field-winding' to alter the reg'ulation of saidgenerator.

13. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator arrangedupon the tender of the locomotive and driven at a variable speed, saidgenerator being provided with a held-winding for regulating' same toconline the output thereof within prearranged limits, said held-windingbeing' arranged in circuit to respond to variations in current, a maincircuit extending' from said generator, a local circuit arranged uponeach of a plurality of cars, a storage battery and translating' devicescarried upon each ear and connected to said main circuit, and ashunt-circuit extending' from each car and passing' around saidiicldwinding whereby the output of said generator may vary upon changesin the number of cars in the train without thereby causing' the saidHeld-winding' to alter the regulation of said generator.

la. In a train-lig'hting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed IOO IIO

and provided With a Shunt-eld, a main circuit extending from saidgenerator, a local circuit arranged upon each of a plurality of units ofthe train, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon eachof a plurality of units of the train and connected in circuit with saidgenerator in parallel, a dii'erential series Held-Winding arranged uponsaid generator and regulating the same to confine the output thereofWithin prearranged limits, said differential held-winding being arrangedin said main circuit in series With said storage batteries and saidtranslating devices, anda parallel shunt-circuit extending from eachunit and passing around said differential field- Winding, whereby theoutput of said generator may vary upon changes in the number of units inthe train Without thereby causing said field-Winding to alter theregulation of said generator.

l5. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at avariable speed and provided with a held-Winding for regulating the sameto eoniine the output thereof Within prearranged limits, saidfield-winding being arranged in circuit to respond to variations incurrent, a main circuit extending' from said generator, a train-lineconnected to said main circuit and passing through a plurality of unitsof the train, a local circuit arranged upon each of said units andconnected to said train-line, a storage battery and translating devicearranged in each local circuit, and a shunt-circuit extending from eachlocal circuit and passing around said diierential iield- Winding.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceoi' two Wit nesses.

WLLLIAM L. Buss. A

Witnesses:

J. N. ROBERTSON, GEORGE MUELLER.

